Product storage and handling system for beverage dispenser

ABSTRACT

A product storage and handling system for a beverage dispenser is characterized by a cabinet in which a plurality of bins are removably supported on one or more shelves that may be slid into and out of the cabinet. Each bin is for containing a removable container of liquid beverage component, a fluid valve of which container extends downward through and is releasably secured against vertical movement in a lower opening in the bin. A connector coupled to a fluid line leading to a beverage valve of a beverage dispenser is arranged to be conveniently fluid coupled with and decoupled from the fluid valve of the bag. When a shelf of slid out of the cabinet, the bins supported by it may, if desired, be lifted off of and replaced on the shelf for during replacement of a depleted bag of liquid beverage component. Alternatively, the bins may remain supported on the shelf during replacement of a depleted bag of liquid beverage component.

This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No.61/277,125, filed Sep. 21, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to beverage dispensing systems, and inparticular to a product storage and handling system for a beveragedispenser, which accommodate convenient storage and replacement ofseparate disposable containers of liquid beverage components to bedelivered to beverage valves of a beverage dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Product dispensing systems, such as beverage or drink dispensers, havesupplies or containers of liquid beverage components fluid coupled todispense valves for mixing and dispensing of drinks for service tocustomers. The beverage components may comprise beverage concentrates orsyrups, along with one or more liquid diluents for mixture with theconcentrates or syrups to provide a desired beverage. The beveragecomponents are desirably chilled, so that a cold drink drawn from thedispenser for service to a customer is not warm and degraded in qualityby excessive melting of ice. Chilling of the beverage components can beaccomplished in any suitable manner, such as by refrigerating aninterior of a cabinet in which the supply containers are maintained orby flowing the beverage components through a cold plate as they aredelivered to the beverage dispensing valves. The supplies of liquidbeverage components may be located either near or remote from thedispenser and the components are delivered by pumps through fluid supplylines from the supplies to individual ones of a plurality of beveragevalves of a dispenser. One such beverage dispenser of a type havingdispense valves for being fluid coupled to supplies of liquid beveragecomponents is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,532, the teachings of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

When a liquid beverage component supply container is depleted, it isreplaced with a fresh supply container. Replacement requires that thefluid connection of its associated fluid supply line be removed and thenreconnected to the fresh supply container, which removal and replacementof the fluid connection and container can be tedious and time consumingwhen the supply containers are stored, as is usually the case, in closeproximity to one another within a cabinet.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a beveragecomponent storage and handling system for a beverage dispenser, whichaccommodates convenient storage and replacement of disposable containersof liquid beverage components that are fluid coupled to dispense valvesof a beverage dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a product storageand handling system for a beverage dispenser that comprises a cabinethaving a shelf; a bin removably supported on the shelf, the bin havingside walls, an open upper end and a passage in a bottom wall thereof; acontainer of liquid beverage component removably carried in the bin, thecontainer having a fluid valve extending through the bin bottom wallpassage; means for releasably securing the container fluid valve againstsubstantial vertical movement in the bin bottom wall passage; and afluid connector for releasably fluid coupling with the container fluidvalve to receive liquid beverage component from the container fordelivery of the liquid beverage component from the container to thebeverage dispenser.

In a preferred embodiments of the system, the shelf is mounted forsliding movement into and out of the cabinet and has an openingaccommodating passage therethrough of the container fluid valve when thebin bottom wall is supported on the shelf; the container valve is an LMSvalve; the means for releasably securing comprises recess means on thecontainer fluid valve for receiving a peripheral edge of the bin bottomwall passage when the valve extends through the passage; the bin bottomwall passage has an enlarged portion and a smaller portion and thecontainer valve is extendable through the enlarged portion and thenslidable into the smaller portion to receive the peripheral edge of thebin bottom wall passage in the container valve recess means; the fluidconnector comprises an elbow connector having a first end for extensioninto a passage in the container fluid valve to establish communicationwith an interior of the container and a second end for fluid couplingwith the beverage dispenser; and the container comprises a flexible bagof liquid beverage component.

The invention also contemplates a method of storing and handling productto be delivered to a beverage dispenser, which comprises the steps ofmounting a shelf in a cabinet; removably supporting a bin on the shelf,the bin having side walls, an open upper end and a passage in a bottomwall that rests on the shelf; placing a container of liquid beveragecomponent into the bin to extend a fluid valve of the container throughthe passage in the bottom wall of the bin; releasably securing thecontainer fluid valve against substantial vertical movement in the binbottom wall passage; and fluid coupling a fluid connector with thecontainer fluid valve to receive liquid beverage component from thecontainer for flow of beverage component from the fluid connector to adispense valve of the beverage dispenser.

According to preferred embodiments of the method, the mounting stepmounts the shelf for sliding movement into and out of the cabinet, theshelf has an opening and the removably supporting step includesextending the container fluid valve through the shelf opening when thebin is supported on the shelf; the container valve is an LMS valve; thereleasably securing step comprises providing a recess in the containervalve and moving the container valve in the bin bottom wall passage toreceive a peripheral edge of the bin bottom wall in the recess; the binbottom wall passage has an enlarged portion and a smaller portion andperformance of the placing step comprises extending the container valvethrough the enlarged portion and then moving the container valve intothe smaller portion to receive the peripheral edge of the bin bottomwall passage in the recess in the container valve; the fluid connectoris an elbow connector, the fluid coupling step comprises extending afirst end of the elbow connector into a passage in the container fluidvalve to establish communication with an interior of the container, andincluded is the step of providing a fluid path from a second end of theelbow connector to a dispense valve of the beverage dispenser; and thecontainer comprises a flexible bag of liquid beverage component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is view of a cabinet for containing supply containers of liquidbeverage components that are disposed in bins carried on slidingshelves;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 and shows a top shelf of the cabinet slidout to provide access to bins carried by the shelf;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of bins in the cabinet, showing fluidconnections to supply containers of liquid beverage components disposedin the bins;

FIG. 4 shows a cabinet sliding shelf for supporting bins in the cabinet;

FIG. 5 is a view of an elbow connector and an LMS (Liquid MoldingSystems) valve of a beverage supply container with which the elbowconnector fluidly connects;

FIG. 6 is a view of a bin and an inverted liquid beverage componentsupply container to be placed in the bin;

FIG. 7 shows an elbow connector fluid coupled with an LMS valve of abeverage component container, which LMS valve is extended through anopening in the bottom of a bin;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 and shows the elbow connector oriented to befluid coupled with the LMS valve of the beverage component container;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a bin and elbow connector fluidcoupled to the LMS valve of a beverage component container in the bin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1, within a cabinet 20 is a plurality of supplycontainers or bags 22 (see FIG. 6) of liquid beverage components thatare each disposed in an associated one of a plurality of bins 24 carriedon sliding shelves 26. For the arrangement shown there are 2 shelves and7 bins, 4 bins on the top shelf and 3 the bottom shelf. It is to beunderstood, however, that depending upon the number of supply containersof liquid beverage components to be stored, the cabinet 20 can beappropriately sized to accommodate more or fewer shelves and more orfewer bins that are carried on the shelves. Opposite sides of each shelf26 are slidably carried on rails 28 mounted on opposite side walls ofthe cabinet 20 to accommodate sliding movement of the shelves and binscarried by the shelves out of and into the cabinet. A door 30 is hingedto the cabinet and movable between positions opening and closing thecabinet.

As will be described, the supply containers 22 of liquid beveragecomponents or ingredients that are stored in the cabinet 20 are fluidcoupled to beverage valves of a beverage dispenser (neither shown) forbeing dispensed into a cup for service of a drink to a customer. Thebeverage dispenser may be of a type as described in aforementioned U.S.Pat. No. 6,935,532, the teachings of which have been incorporated hereinby reference. When such a beverage dispenser is used, it may be mounteddirectly atop the cabinet 20 or it may be countertop mounted with thecabinet then being located either below the countertop and dispenser orat a remote location. Alternatively, the cabinet may be an integrallower part of a beverage dispensing apparatus and can have rollers 32 tofacilitate its movement.

The supply containers or bags 22 of liquid beverage components cancomprise beverage concentrates or syrups, in which case a diluent thatmay be plain or carbonated water can be delivered to the beveragedispensing valves along with the beverage components. To ensure that aquality beverage is dispensed for service to a customer, means (notshown) are provided for chilling the beverage components and any diluentdelivered to the beverage valves. Such means can comprise arefrigeration system for chilling the interior of the cabinet 20 withinwhich the supplies of beverage components are stored, and in the case ofa beverage dispenser that also dispenses ice, the refrigeration systemcan also service an icemaker for the dispenser. Alternatively or inaddition to chilling the cabinet interior with a refrigeration system,the chilling means can comprise a cold plate through which the beveragecomponents are flowed prior to being delivered to the beverage valves.The supplies of beverage components in the cabinet 20 are coupled to thebeverage dispensing valves through fluid lines, and means (not shown)may advantageously be provided to chill the fluid lines along the pathof their extension between the cabinet and dispensing valves.

The beverage component supply containers 22 are contemplated to beflexible bags of liquid beverage components, each provided with anappropriate valve, such as an LMS (Liquid Molding System) valve,indicated generally at 34, which is a valve utilizing a silicon memberin which there is a “+” shaped cut that normally is closed but throughwhich a fluid connector can be moved to establish fluid communicationwith the liquid beverage component in the bag interior. One such LMSvalve 34 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5-10, and with particular reference toFIG. 5, the valve comprises a generally cylindrical body member 36having a fluid passage 38 extending axially therethrough. The bodymember 36 has a pair of axially spaced circumferential recesses 40 and42, the purpose of which recess 40 will later be described, and the bodymember is sealed at one end to and about an opening in the flexible bag22, such that an inner end of the axial passage 38 communicates with thebag interior. The silicon member in which there is the “+” shaped cut isin and normally closes the passage 38, so that liquid beverage componentin the bag does not unintentionally flow out of the bag through thepassage.

The liquid beverage component in each bag 22 is accessed via anassociated elbow connector, indicated generally at 44. The elbowconnector has a tubular inlet extension 46 that may be manually movedinto the passage 38 of the LMS valve 34 and through the “+” shaped cutin the silicon member in the passage to place an inlet to a passage 48,extending through the tubular inlet extension, into fluid communicationwith liquid beverage component in the bag. From the tubular inletextension 46 the passage 48 extends through a barb fitting 50 of theelbow connector to an outlet from the passage at an end of the barbfitting, whereby liquid beverage component in the bag may be flowed outof the bag through the passage 48 in the elbow connector 44. The barbfitting attaches to an appropriate flexible tubing 52 (FIG. 3) thatprovides a fluid flow path for the liquid beverage component through apump (not shown) to a beverage valve of the beverage dispenser (neithershown), such that operation of the pump draws liquid beverage componentfrom the bag 22 and through the LMS valve, elbow connector and flexiblefluid line to the beverage valve. When the bag 22 is emptied of liquidbeverage component, the tubular extension 46 of the elbow connector 44can be withdrawn and released from the passage 38 in the LMS valve 34,whereupon the “+” shaped cut in the silicon member in the passage closesto prevent leakage from the bag through the LMS valve. A handle 54 onthe elbow connector 44 facilitates manual manipulation of the elbowconnector in its connection and disconnection with and from the LMSvalve 34.

The arrangement by which the supply bags 22 of beverage components arecarried in the bins 24, by which the bins are supported on the slidingshelves 26 in the cabinet 20, and by which the elbow connectors 44 arefluid coupled to the LMS valves of the bags for flow of liquid beveragecomponents to beverage dispensing valves, facilitates convenient loadingand replacement of depleted beverage component supply bags in thecabinet. In particular, to load bags of liquid beverage components intothe cabinet 20, a shelf 26 of the cabinet is slid forward out of thecabinet, such as is seen in FIG. 2. One or more of the bins 24 carriedby the shelf may then be lifted off of the shelf, with an slot 56 in afront wall of the bins providing a means by which an operator can easilygrip the bins to lift them off of the shelf, or the bins can be left inplace on the shelf. With the bins either in place on or removed from theshelf, a liquid beverage component bag, such as the bag 22 which isshown upside down in FIG. 6 to illustrate the location of its LMS valve34, is placed in each bin in an orientation such that its LMS valvefaces downward and is toward a front wall of the bin. Each bin isprovided with a pear-shaped passage or opening 58 in its bottom walltoward its front wall, which pear-shaped opening has an enlarged portionaway from the bin front wall that is large enough to accommodateextension therethrough of the cylindrical body member 36 of the LMSvalve of a bag 22 and a smaller portion toward the bin front wall thathas a width slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the of thecylindrical body member. When a bag is placed into a bin, thecylindrical body member of the LSM valve is first extended downwardthrough the enlarged portion of the pear-shaped opening 58 in the binbottom wall. The cylindrical body member of the valve is then manuallymoved forward into the smaller forward portion of the pear-shapedopening, so that peripheral edges of the bin bottom wall that define thesmaller portion of the pear-shaped opening 58 move into thecircumferential recess 40 in the cylindrical body member 36 of the LMSvalve, thereby to secure the LMS valve against vertical movementrelative to the bin.

After the bins 24 are loaded with bags 22 full of liquid beveragecomponents, they are placed back onto the cabinet shelf 26 if previouslyremoved therefrom, or are otherwise left in place on the shelf. Ineither case, laterally spaced openings 60 in a front edge of the shelfaccommodate downward extension therethrough of the LMS valves 34 of thebags of beverage components that have been placed in the bins. Thetubular inlet extensions 46 of the elbow connectors 44 associated withthe LMS valves 34 of the bags 22 are then moved into the axial passages38 of the valves to fluid couple the contents of the bags through fluidlines 52 to dispense valves of a beverage dispenser. During fluidcoupling of each elbow connector to its LMS valve, receipt of the edgesof the bin bottom wall within the valve recess 40 secures the valveagainst upward movement as the elbow connector is extended into it,thereby facilitating establishment of the fluid connection. The cabinetshelf is then slid backward into the cabinet 20 and the cabinet door 30is closed.

Upon depletion of a bag 22 of liquid beverage component, as may bedetected in any suitable manner well understood by those of skill in theart, the door 30 of the cabinet is opened and the shelf 26 supportingthe bin 24 in which the depleted bag is carried is slid forward out ofthe cabinet. The elbow connector 44 fluid coupled to the LMS valve 34 ofthe depleted bag is then uncoupled from the LMS valve, whereupon the LMSvalve is manually slid rearward into the enlarged rearward portion ofthe pear-shaped opening 58 so that it is released for vertical movementout the opening, at which point the depleted bag can then be lifted outof the bin and replaced with a fresh bag of liquid beverage component inthe manner above described.

The invention therefore provides an improved liquid beverage componenthandling and storage system for a beverage dispenser, which accommodatesconvenient storage of bags of liquid beverage components for delivery todispense valves of a beverage dispensing machine. The arrangement alsoaccommodates convenient replacement of depleted bags of beveragecomponents. While the valve carried by each bag of liquid beveragecomponent has been described as an LMS valve, it is understood that anyother suitable type of valve and connector for fluid coupling with thevalve may be used in practice of the invention.

While embodiments of the invention have been described in detail,various modifications and other embodiments thereof may be devised byone skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A product storage and handling system for a beverage dispenser, comprising: a cabinet having a shelf; a bin removably supported on said shelf, said bin having side walls, an open upper end and a passage in a bottom wall thereof, said passage including pear shaped opening including an enlarged portion co-planar and continuous with a smaller portion; a container of liquid beverage component removably carried in said bin, said container having a fluid valve extending through said bin bottom wall passage; a recess formed on said container fluid valve receiving a peripheral edge of said bin bottom wall passage when said valve extends through said passage securing said container fluid valve against substantial vertical movement in said bin bottom wall passage and a fluid connector for releasably fluid coupling with said container fluid valve to receive liquid beverage component from said container for delivery of the liquid beverage component from said container to the beverage dispenser.
 2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said shelf is mounted for sliding movement into and out of said cabinet and has an opening accommodating passage therethrough of said container fluid valve when said bin bottom wall is supported on said shelf.
 3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said container valve includes a silicon body having a passage formed therein and a cross shaped opening formed in the body reversibly sealing the passage.
 4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said container valve is extendable through said enlarged portion and then slidable into said smaller portion to receive said peripheral edge of said bin bottom wall passage in said container valve recess.
 5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said fluid connector comprises an elbow connector having a first end for extension into a passage in said container fluid valve to establish communication with an interior of said container and a second end for fluid coupling with the beverage dispenser.
 6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a flexible bag of liquid beverage component.
 7. A method of storing and handling product to be delivered to a beverage dispenser, comprising the steps of: mounting a shelf in a cabinet; removably supporting a bin on the shelf, the bin having side walls, an open upper end and a passage in a bottom wall that rests on the shelf, the passage including an enlarged portion co-planar and a smaller portion; placing a container of liquid beverage component into the bin to extend a fluid valve of the container through the passage in the bottom wall of the bin, the fluid valve including a recess formed thereon; releasably securing the container fluid valve against substantial vertical movement in the bin bottom wall passage by extending the container valve through the enlarged portion and then moving the container valve into the smaller portion to receive the peripheral edge of the bin bottom wall passage in the recess in the container valve; and fluid coupling a fluid connector with the container fluid valve to receive liquid beverage component from the container for flow of beverage component from the fluid connector to a dispense valve of the beverage dispenser.
 8. A method as in claim 7, wherein said mounting step mounts the shelf for sliding movement into and out of the cabinet, the shelf has an opening and said removably supporting step includes extending the container fluid valve through the shelf opening when the bin is supported on the shelf.
 9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the container includes a silicon body having a passage formed therein and a cross shaped opening formed in the body reversibly sealing the passage.
 10. A method as in claim 7, wherein the fluid connector is an elbow connector, said fluid coupling step comprises extending a first end of the elbow connector into a passage in the container fluid valve to establish communication with an interior of the container, and including the step of providing a fluid path from a second end of the elbow connector to a dispense valve of the beverage dispenser.
 11. A method as in claim 7, wherein the container comprises a flexible bag of liquid beverage component.
 12. A product storage and handling system for a beverage dispenser, comprising: a cabinet having a shelf; a bin removably supported on said shelf, said bin having side walls, an open upper end and a passage in a bottom wall thereof; a container of liquid beverage component removably carried in said bin, said container having a fluid valve extending through said bin bottom wall passage; a recess formed on said container fluid valve securing said container fluid valve against substantial vertical movement in said bin bottom wall passage and a fluid connector including an elbow connector having a first end for extension into a passage in said container fluid valve to establish communication with an interior of said container and a second end for fluid coupling with the beverage dispenser. 